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Talk DS tires to me

Started by Slide Panda, February 06, 2012, 08:40:16 AM

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Slide Panda

February 06, 2012, 08:40:16 AM
Dirty talk!

Soon I'll have a new steed - KTM 690 enduro to go play with some other DMFers on the dirt. Where I live, it's 20-30 min of pavement miles before there's any dirt/fire roads/ trails worth a damn. The 690 has full on knobbies right now, which are A) overkill for the stuff I'll be doing B) will get chewed to shit very fast on the pavement.

Sooooo I'm in the market for some DS tires to try out. Anyone got faves? I'm pondering a set of Shinko 7xx tires


-Throttle's on the right, so are the brakes.  Good luck.
- '00 M900S with all the farkles
- '08 KTM 690 StupidMoto
- '07 Triumph 675 Track bike.

Dirty Duc

#1
February 06, 2012, 08:44:05 AM
I was sold on the Shinko 705s when I watched a guy on a KLR have no problems in the mud... and he went farther into the slop than my GS on Tourances.  Tourances suck in the mud... in fact, I think the only thing they don't suck at is tire life, so I can't get new tires that don't suck yet.

Speeddog

#2
February 06, 2012, 09:33:25 AM
TKC-80's are good.
- - - - - Valley Desmo Service - - - - -
Reseda, CA
(951) 640-8908

~~~ "We've rearranged the deck chairs, refilled the champagne glasses, and the band sounds great. This is fine." - Alberto Puig ~~~

ScottRNelson

#3
February 07, 2012, 08:34:32 AM
I use IRC GP-110 tires on my XR650L.  Very good grip on the street, good price, okay mileage, and they work reasonably well in the dirt if you stay out of the mud.

I also have a set of TKC-80's on my spare rims, but haven't bothered to put those on the bike yet.
Scott R. Nelson, 2001 XR650L, 2020 KTM 790 Adv R, Meridian, ID

Speeddog

#4
February 07, 2012, 10:12:16 AM
+1 on the IRC GP-110's, they're better on the street/worse in the dirt than the TKC-80's.
- - - - - Valley Desmo Service - - - - -
Reseda, CA
(951) 640-8908

~~~ "We've rearranged the deck chairs, refilled the champagne glasses, and the band sounds great. This is fine." - Alberto Puig ~~~

The Mad King Pepe'

#5
February 08, 2012, 07:52:20 AM
Quote from: Sad Panda on February 06, 2012, 08:40:16 AM
Dirty talk!
Step into my office! [laugh]


My '06 F650 GS came with (well used) Metzeler Tourance tires (100/90-19 130/80-17), these are the only DS tires I have real experience with.

  • On the road they are very good, both dry (fun and well planted in the twisties) and wet (hauling @$$ on 270 in a storm shower). And as already mentioned they get great mileage!
  • Off-road they are OK at best, I think they have about twice the grooves of the Michelin Pilot Road 2 I had mounted on my monster. They sink in heavy gravel, get stuck in deep mud and feel all over the place with light mud on top of a solid road (thought I had a flat tire the first time this happened).

BTW, the Tourances are considered 90/10 (street/dirt) tires. You need to take that into consideration when making comparisons: for example the TKC-80 are 50/50 (street/dirt) tires. In the end it's all about compromise between dry grip, wet grip, dirt/mud grip, and tire life -- pick two, maybe three.


I plan to put a 21" front on my GS for better clearance and tire choices, these are some of the tires I'm looking into (dirt/road rating is an approximation, and so is the price -- shipped):

  • Avon Gripster AM24       -- 70/30  --  ~$210
  • Continental TKC-80       -- 50/50  --  ~$250
  • Continental Escape        -- 80/20  --  ~$275
  • Heidenau K60 Scout      -- 70/30  --  ~$230
  • Kenda K761                  -- 80/20  --  ~$150
  • Mefo Explorer                -- 70/30  --  ~$300
  • Metzeler Karoo              -- 50/50  --  ~$190
  • Metzeler Sahara 3         -- 70/30  --  ~$260
  • Metzeler Tourance         -- 90/10  --  ~$280
  • Pirelli MT90 Scorpion AT -- 70/30  --  ~$191
  • Pirelli Scorpion Trail        -- 90/10  --  ~$220
  • Shinko 705                   -- 90/10  --  ~$120

Some prices from:
www.americanmototire.com
www.amazon.com
www.swmototires.com

On a side note, you might want to look into getting one of these: http://www.agrisupply.com/operators-manual-canister/p/67670/ to put your basic tools into.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

Slide Panda

#6
February 08, 2012, 10:37:11 AM
Prices are for a set yes?

For my big wheels, I'll probably spoon on something a bit more dirt oriented. 70/30 or 50/50. The bike has the orignal 21/18 wheels and a 17/17" set with bridgestones for all paved days. 30-40 min to swap gear so I can play both sides of the coin depending on the mood.

-Throttle's on the right, so are the brakes.  Good luck.
- '00 M900S with all the farkles
- '08 KTM 690 StupidMoto
- '07 Triumph 675 Track bike.

The Mad King Pepe'

#7
February 08, 2012, 05:40:47 PM
Very approximate prices for a set (90/90-21 front & 130/80-17 rear).

Since you wont be commuting on the "dirt" tires, I think it make sense to go with a 50/50 tire. Switching to the SuMo tires should give you the best of both worlds. [thumbsup]
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

Speeddog

#8
February 08, 2012, 08:41:37 PM
Sheet.... if you've got SuMo wheels, go 90/10 dirt/street on the big wheels.
- - - - - Valley Desmo Service - - - - -
Reseda, CA
(951) 640-8908

~~~ "We've rearranged the deck chairs, refilled the champagne glasses, and the band sounds great. This is fine." - Alberto Puig ~~~

The Mad King Pepe'

#9
February 09, 2012, 06:15:38 AM
That would be the knobbies he already has...

Quote from: Speeddog on February 08, 2012, 08:41:37 PM
Sheet.... if you've got SuMo wheels, go 90/10 dirt/street on the big wheels.

How about a pair of TKC-80 for $203.78 (shipped from: www.americanmototire.com) [thumbsup]
or Metzeler Karoo-2 $151.36 (more dirt oriented).
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

Slide Panda

#10
February 10, 2012, 06:24:59 AM
Turns out the rear is a TKC front is something else - another manufacturer entirely. How important is it to match up DS/Dirty fronts to rears? Is it like street where things will get wonky if you cross the streams? Or less so
-Throttle's on the right, so are the brakes.  Good luck.
- '00 M900S with all the farkles
- '08 KTM 690 StupidMoto
- '07 Triumph 675 Track bike.

The Mad King Pepe'

#11
February 10, 2012, 06:40:20 AM
Quote from: Sad Panda on February 10, 2012, 06:24:59 AM
Turns out the rear is a TKC front is something else - another manufacturer entirely. How important is it to match up DS/Dirty fronts to rears? Is it like street where things will get wonky if you cross the streams? Or less so
People mix DS and dirtbike tires often. I think it's called a "mullet", or something similar.

One common mix is a TKC (50/50) front for better grip off-road and a 70/30 to 90/10 rear for better longevity on-road. I think this one is particularly common with the big Katooms (950/990) since they shread rears.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

rockaduc

#12
February 12, 2012, 06:22:22 AM Last Edit: February 13, 2012, 11:27:31 AM by rockaduc
The Dunlop D606's are usually well liked.
I'm putting the Pirelli scorpions (mid - hard compound), never tried 'em before, on my 450 exc before I start riding this yr.
If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you.  If you can't see Chuck Norris, you may be only seconds away from death.

Langanobob

#13
February 13, 2012, 08:58:40 AM
Quote from: Sad Panda on February 06, 2012, 08:40:16 AM
Dirty talk!

Soon I'll have a new steed - KTM 690 enduro to go play with some other DMFers on the dirt. Where I live, it's 20-30 min of pavement miles before there's any dirt/fire roads/ trails worth a damn. The 690 has full on knobbies right now, which are A) overkill for the stuff I'll be doing B) will get chewed to shit very fast on the pavement.

Sooooo I'm in the market for some DS tires to try out. Anyone got faves? I'm pondering a set of Shinko 7xx tires


My suggestion is to wear the knobbies out first.  They'll last longer than you think riding 20 or 30 minutes on pavement to your dirt trails.  The problem I have with dual sport tires is that they sacrifice  a lot of dirt performance.    Maybe OK if everyone you're riding with also has dual sport tires, but no fun eating dust, rocks and and dirt and not being able to keep up if they have dirt tires and you have dual sport tires. 

Congrats on the KTM!  One's been on my wish list for awhile.

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